Service dog handler lobby

[lostforgottensoul]

Chopper has his boots on (without the socks on the front) and I ran him inside for like 15 mins then freed him to go chew on the kong (which we were playing with) on his bed. He walked better and seemed overall more comfortable in them. Now he is laying sleeping on his bed. Pretty darn comfortable.

Of course just as I typed that he started to move his feet around but seems WAY more comfortable.

Before that, we walked outside on the pavement about 5 times further then usual. About 15 mins of that before my back started to give. But, way more then usual.

And it has just rained again. Hopefully the rain is here to stay. Never thought I would say that after last year but makes things so much easier! It rained late but 2 days in a row is a good sign!

Anyway, keeping him in his boots for a bit just to get him used to keeping them on for a while.

Things are looking up in that regard! Yay!

 

[Justmehere]

My SD had a leptospirosis vaccine this morning. She exercised a bit today, a normal amount. Gave her a bath tonight, about 8 hours after the shot, she was fine. She slept in the sun to dry off, as I sat next to her reading. She got up and for the past few hours, she won’t put weight on the leg where she had the vaccine. Called two emergency vets, they both said lepto vaccines can cause this - and to wait it out until tomorrow. Then if she isn’t better, call her normal vet. To make myself feel better, I have nicknamed her my “sweet 3 legged puppers” tonight, as she’s doing fine hopping on her good three legs and holding the third up to do the basics like going potty. And she had s million nicknames. Because...I don’t know...she just does. I’m actually super worried as all get out. I’m trying to keep her as still as possible.

I could use any thoughts about if there is anything else you’d do while waiting this out for a bit like the two vet clinics recommended. Googling for info about vaccines is not good for either myself or the dog. Don’t need more reasons to worry. It’s a needed vaccine around here as lepto infected raccoons are prevalent. It appears lameness and soreness in the leg is a side effect, and they even mentioned soreness when they gave the shot.

Bad night, need another brain or two to help me think this through.

 

[Sideways]

There’s good chances doggo is going to be just fine.

There was an opportunity to make a bit of extra cash here, and 2 seperate vets have said “Nope, not necessary, she’s going to be okay.”

If you need to for your own sake? Get a third for confirmation. But it seems to me you have every reason to believe that she’ll be ok

 

[lostforgottensoul]

God, how scary @Justmehere! How is she doing today?

I googled for you and all of the sites that mention lamness and lipping it was mentioning inflamation around the vaccine site. Maybe a low dose of an anti-inflamation med like ibuprofen? I don't know how much your puppers weigh but Chopper is 80 lbs and can take an adult dose of meds and gave him a 200mg ibuprofen a few times when he hurt his leg. But you could even go down to a 24 hr drug store and pick up a children's dose of an ant-iinflamitory. That may help. Also ice could help. Chopper never let me put ice on his leg but wrap it up in a towel so it cool but not cold.

If it doesn't get better in a day or two, make an appointment with your normal vet. But, I'm with @Sideways on this. If 2 emergency vets said it was normal over the large amount of money it takes to see an emergency vet, I think it's safe to say this is normal and pups will be perfectly ok!

How scary though! I'd be freaking out too! They should of warned you of the possible side effects. Which seem to be a lot of possible side effects. Many that would freak anyone out!

 

[Justmehere]

She is beginning to put a tiny bit of weight on her leg every couple of steps. She is still clearly in pain and holds it up most of the time. I can call the vet clinic soon and ask for pain meds for her and what to do. I tried icing her leg and that helped a little. Poor puppers.

 

[Justmehere]

Secretary at vet clinic refused to schedule, told me a long scheduled check up appointment for Friday is canceled and to give my dog benedryl

I begged to schedule even for July. They wouldn’t just kept telling me to give her Benadryl. They didn’t explain why Friday’s regular appointment was canceled.

I finally speak to a vet tech and by now I’m in tears and the vet tech is telling me the secretary does have great medical advice and I’m like... but she doesn’t schedule appointments and that’s what I needed... I explained the secretary canceled my appointment for a chronic issue prior to this... and the vet tech starts yelling...

 

[lostforgottensoul]

@Justmehere, how horrible! At least treat people with decentcy! I mean, it's a working dog! I'd try another vet.

Why Benedryl? Chopper was on Benedryl but for a grass allergy. Are they saying this is an allergic reation?

 

[Justmehere]

They said to bring her in. I am barely together. I’m with her at the vet. Hopefully it’s a simple matter.

@lostforgottensoul - no clue why the Benadryl.

 

[Justmehere]

Turns out it’s not the lepto. It’s her toe. I kept saying it’s her foot she doesn’t want touched and makes her whimper. Not her hip. The chief vet saw us and was very kind, as my doc deserved and much more kind to me than my teary self deserved. Her toe is swollen. Not broken. Possible sprain or there is a scratch that could be causing it. They gave pain meds to help and we have a follow up Friday.

 

[Sideways]

Sore toes! Puppers are sooooo sooky when anything goes wrong with their toes. This is not lack of empathy, because the last time my dog had a sore toe, I gave him a week of super-spoiling.

Did they tape the foot up so they toe isn’t moving around so much? That often helps a lot. And I am increasingly suspicious that dogs seem to feel a little bit cool about the whole “I’m wounded” look!

Antiseptic wash (or plain old soapy) if you’re worried that there’s any cuts that might get infected.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I think Chopper has some toes or at least nails issues. A few of them are changing color. He has clear nails. I did some googling and found a pitbull forum where someone posted a picture of exactly what his nails looks like and says its a fungal infection. How does that even happen. Someone said they used apple cidar vingar to get rid of it so gonna try that. He absolutely does not want me to dremmel those nails and I have a feeling it's why he's having a hard time in boots this year. Last year we didn't have that issue and they do seem tender.

Anyone ever have that happen before? I have never heard of fungal infections in dog's nails before.

Anyway, so glad you gotta it figured out @Justmehere here! It's so scary when your service dog is limping and you don't know what's wrong. Been there! Never heard of tapping toes before @Sideways! Thanks for that tip! For hurt toes that is. How is the pupper doing @Justmehere?

 

[Sideways]

I did some googling and found a pitbull forum where someone posted a picture of exactly what his nails looks like and says its a fungal infection. How does that even happen.

If you’re good mates with your local vet? They’d probably confirm that for you without an appointment.

They’ll probably also be happy to sell you some super expensive fungal cream.

But in my mind? Fungus is fungus. The same types of anti-fungal ingredients tend to do the job. So I’d drop into your local pharmacy and pick up a tube of human anti-fungal from the podiatry aisle and start there. They’ll be hard to miss - they usually come with heinous pics of fungal toes on the front of the box!

A lot of people get fungal nail infections, and it wouldn’t surprise me if dogs get that too. They can take a while to get rid of, because as well as killing the fungus, the healthy toenail has to grow through.

If “people” are to believed, apple cider vinegar can cure everything that needs curing, and kill everything that needs killing. I’m cynical. Apart from being really acidic, I can’t see that it would necessarily help getting rid of fungus - maybe changing the pH of the toe is enough, who knows. But it probably stings, and if definitely smells, which dogs aren’t usually fans of.

What it would do is make sure doggo isn’t licking at the toe, but there are less stinky ways of achieving that!!